OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Clifton Heights, PA 19018

Clifton Heights: median income $73,522, home value $225,100, $202/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21206 87%78$64,531$216,100$166 larger
River Grove, IL 60171 86%669$69,858$241,800$243 smaller
Bridgeport, CT 06606 84%141$73,372$289,000$271 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Waterbury, CT 06708 83%162$67,364$218,500$202 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Gwynn Oak, MD 21207 83%87$67,060$260,300$187 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Halethorpe, MD 21227 83%89$85,986$289,400$209 pricier homes ($64K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Trenton, NJ 08638 82%36$66,875$245,100$257 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Melrose Park, IL 60160 82%670$66,189$275,800$230 pricier homes ($51K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Chicago Ridge, IL 60415 82%664$68,964$226,900$189 smaller · more renters · newer homes
Claymont, DE 19703 81%12$76,939$284,700$223 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Essex, MD 21221 81%75$67,340$271,500$187 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Baltimore, MD 21229 81%87$60,047$201,300$147 larger
Elmwood Park, IL 60707 81%668$84,799$332,000$234 pricier homes ($107K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Gardner, MA 01440 80%251$67,440$303,500$232 pricier homes ($78K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Wilmington, DE 19805 80%20$60,221$237,100$204 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Schiller Park, IL 60176 80%671$69,696$275,000$219 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60645 79%663$76,045$328,200$224 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger
Fitchburg, MA 01420 78%258$72,780$335,300$246 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Dundalk, MD 21222 78%79$64,141$215,900$179 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33179 78%1,005$65,211$286,200$215 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · newer homes
Haverstraw, NY 10927 77%112$75,167$361,100$272 pricier homes ($136K more) · smaller · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21239 77%79$62,650$207,400$164 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Bridgeview, IL 60455 77%666$66,745$236,600$215 more single-family homes · newer homes
Palos Hills, IL 60465 77%666$83,533$279,200$200 pricier homes ($54K more) · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60632 77%661$64,809$252,600$219 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · older homes

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.